where is steve mcnair mother now

"Mama," Mechelle asked, "do you think it's true?" "Steve was a good person," Mechelle's mother says. Twitter wasn't a factor yet, but there were plenty of media outlets to feed off of the stunning story of a Tennessee football hero killed by 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, a woman with whom he'd been having an affair. McNair also played free safety in high school, and in 1990 alone, he intercepted 15 passes, raising his career total to 30, which tied the mark established by Terrell Buckley at Pascagoula High School. Tyler came home for about a month, but he wasn't really there. No, I did not.". She keeps McNair's football memorabilia in the basement, where Trent dribbles his basketball and Tyler practices his dance moves. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. It would not go away. She received her degree in nursing years ago. Maybe they would have been anyway, had Steve McNair not been killed. [19], Following the 2005 season, on April 30, 2006, the Titans allowed McNair and his agent, James "Bus" Cook, to speak with the Ravens to try to work out a deal. Sports was always one of the tougher areas for Mechelle to navigate. Mechelle didn't particularly want to go to such a tiny school. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. In his senior season, McNair gained 6,281 combined yards rushing (904) and passing (5,377), along with 56 touchdowns. The Steve Miller Band; Friday, July 7. She had one job: to raise their sons. "Most of the time I really don't hear it that much, but when I do, it's a little bit embarrassing. The judge agreed, and each of the four children received $500,000. [51], McNair died without a last will and testament, and his assets were frozen pending probate of his estate. Tyler tells her everything, even the stuff that can get him grounded. Mechelle McNair married to Steve McNair on 1997 and divorce on 2009. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' "I'm finally doing something I love, and I was happy year-round. She already had two men in her in life: Tyler, 19, and Trent, who just turned 14. "He was a good dad. He'd say, 'I just need some rest.'". It was nearly 11 years ago when former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was found dead next to a young woman in a downtown Nashville condo. McNair's success in the NFL netted him a fortune. Mechelle appreciates the little things, such as the neighbor who used to replace the boys' basketball net whenever it looked worn, or the random texts Piller sends to the boys to ask how it's going. [44] Kazemi had a worsening financial situation and also suspected that McNair was in another extramarital relationship. [35] Kazemi and McNair had been previously involved with each other romantically. He opened his own restaurant in Nashville, which he named Gridiron9. Things around the McNair family have been tense, to say the least, since Steve passed in 2009. And it was in the sports arenathat the McNair boys shined. See our privacy policy. Offensive linemen spend their careers protecting the quarterback, and Piller couldn't. When a parent dies young and leaves behind children, people make promises. But Fred was more,Fred would pick you apart. She would lean on her friends, who dropped everything to be with her in Nashville, or cry to her aunts and uncles. The game had a controversial finish when, after missing a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time and a second failed kick in overtime was negated because of a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty on Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington, kicker Joe Nedney won the game from 26 yards out 2:15 into overtime. Tyler disagrees. George Gojkovich/Getty Images. "[38] McNair, who was believed to have been asleep on the couch when the shooting occurred, was shot twice in the body and twice in the head, with only one of the shots coming from closer than three feet. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting. I'm not going to do it.". McNair and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning were named co-NFL MVPs following the 2003 season, which ended for the Titans in a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. He says that McNair would do the same thing for him, and that what he does isn't much. A post shared by Tyler McNair (@_tylahh_). I don't. When he headed back east after winter break, Trent refused to go to the airport because he didn't want to cry. The boys are constantly chasing a ghost, a man who, in death, is still the biggest sports legend in Nashville. [6] McNair's record for total offensive yards still stands as of 2018, but his mark for career passing yards was eclipsed by Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges in 2018. Corrections? I got to dance all the time, I got to travel, and I got into the college I wanted to. McNair threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns in '98, and he led the Titans to the Super Bowl a year later. He was found dead with the body of a young woman, Sahel Kazemi, in a rented house at 105 Lea Avenue in downtown Nashville. McNair played with the Titans franchise for 11 seasons before finishing his career with the Baltimore Ravens (200608). That same show aired as a rerun last week, on the night of the Super Bowl. Trent, pictured right, was 5. Nobody knew where he was. He was human. Stephen "Steve" LaTreal McNair fathered his namesake and Steven O'Brian McNair through different relationships before he met, fell in love, and tied the knot with his only wife, Mechelle McNair, on June 21, 1997. And them. "I can deal with not having Steve here a lot more because I see him still every day in his boys." "[38] There was also a conversation about financial issues where McNair transferred $2,000 to Kazemi, who claimed she was "stressed" and needed to pay her phone bill. The two were living happily with each other and also parenting their two children until 2009. It had been a long time since they'd been there. Sports was always one of the tougher areas for Mechelle to navigate. McNair had dreams of his restaurant becoming a chain. Piller downplays his involvement. She noticed her husband wasn't home and made a number of phone calls trying to find him. He was catching up with friends and hanging out at Waffle House at 2 in the morning. "He would just come home and be, like, dead," Tyler says. The house actually had been on the market before McNair died, but then the housing crisis hit, and it bounced on and off the listings for four years. A few months after his death, the restaurant was sold. and in junior high they started doing,and I saidsomething is not right about this. "They were wrestling all the time,tearing thebed down and fixing the bed back up. How was she feeling? But,according to his mother,that was just a fraction of who Steve McNair was. "He never cried, not once," Mrs. McNair. But soon,everyone knew. Tyler disagrees. "I know he's in his head," Steve would tell Mechelle. Before everything changed. Over that time, McNair threw 119 touchdown passes and set an FCS record by throwing and running for a combined 16,823 yards. But he could be there for McNair's boys. The well-known footballer, Steve, died on 4 July 2009 at the age of 46. On June 8, McNair flew to Baltimore, passed a physical and was announced as the newest member of the Ravens. That was meand God.". Judy Winslow's character was just nine years old when Family Matters first started. The night of his death, McNair put his children to bed, then at 11:00p.m. he texted Kazemi "On my way. 9 and Eddie George's No. In 2013, she sold their 13,000-square-foot house and moved to a smaller home. On a recent winter afternoon, Mechelle is sitting in the dining room of their house in the hills of Nashville, waiting to pick Trent up from school. Times when the family would pair up in teams and wrestle, Mechelle and Tyler on one side; Trent and Steve on the other. He wore bandages for weeks. George Clark/Hattiesburg American POOL/Getty Images. I'm not going to do it." She never worried about that with Tyler, but for some reason, she thinks about it now that it's just her and Trent. His life was cut short on July 4, 2009, but his legacy lives onin family and those who knew him best. "That word will always get to me. Steve and Mechelle had happily welcomed their first child, Tyler McNair, a year after getting married, followed by Trenton roughly five years later. He kissed Mechelle and told her he loved her, too. E:60's John Minton III and Ryan Smith contributed to this report. She never played. He says she needs to go out more, to have fun sometimes. The full schedule includes: Advertisement. "Nope," she says. In December of the 2003 season, an injured calf and ankle kept McNair sidelined for two games, though he still finished with the best numbers of his career, including 3,215 passing yards, 24 touchdown passes, just seven interceptions,[17] and a quarterback rating of 100.4. Mechelle had always considered herself a private person. [6], McNair appeared in the playoffs four times with the Titans, including their run to Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, and made his final playoff appearance in 2006 with the Ravens. According to Piller, Trent hit five 3-pointers. He added, "We believe now, at this time, that McNair was seated on the sofa and likely was asleep, and we believe that . Dont miss to subscribe to our new feeds, kindly fill the form below. A handful of them delivered. But his phone kept ringing. The other two are from previous relationships. He leaned on his mother, Mechelle, and Tyler, at left. He split time between his home in Nashville and his farm in Collins, Mississippi. Stephen LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 July 4, 2009),[2] nicknamed "Air McNair",[3][4] was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. McNair threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns in '98, and he led the Titans to the Super Bowl a year later. (McNair also has two older sons from previous relationships.) He sees flashes of his friend, and it helps him stay close to him. He made a mistake. [21] Speculation was that the Titans might hold onto McNair until the week before training camp in late July if the Ravens didn't come up with a satisfactory trade offer for McNair according to a league source. I've been there." For whatever reason, Michelle believes that Lucille should have to pay ($3,000/month) to live in the home that her millionaire son built. Tyler is at New York University on an academic scholarship for a degree in biology while pursuing a career in the entertainment industry as a dancer. Death of Mechelle's Husband, Steve McNair. "At the end of the day, that's my husband," she says. In the divisional playoff round against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McNair threw for a career postseason high 338 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, while rushing for 29 yards and another score on the ground. But her sons were terrified and confused. He cleaned the fish when they got home that night, washed his truck and began to doze off on the couch. He attended Mount Olive High School as a freshman in the fall of 1987, where he played football, baseball, and basketball in addition to running track. The Players Association's filed a grievance on his behalf in which an arbitrator ruled that the team violated its contract, opening the possibility for a trade. McNair was shot and killed on the Fourth of July by Sahel Kazemi, a 20-year-old girlfriend who then shot herself in the head. He announced his retirement following the 2007 season. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. At first, Mechelle thought he should stick it out. Before she met McNair, Mechelle never thought she would get married. He was a tenacious defender who helped his team win two state championships. (She was never a suspect). Her husband would have done things differently. McNair and the Titans reached the AFC Championship game but were unable to reach the Super Bowl, losing to the Oakland Raiders 4124. I know how it is when you ain't got nothing,and I never believed that I would be in this position to help other people," said Lucille. "I can't say that I didn't have my bitter moments. I feel like I'm the weakest person sometimes. "They appreciated what they had," add Lucille. Funeral services were held for McNair at the Reed Green Coliseum on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi on July 11; he was buried at Griffith Cemetery in Prentiss, Mississippi. Beach Boys; Friday, August 11. McNair played in all sixteen games in 2000 but did not start the first of two annual games against the Steelers. When it hit her, she fell to the floor, screaming. Mechelle is asked whether she thinks they'd be this close had McNair lived. She already had two men in her in life: Tyler, 19, and Trent, who just turned 14. The Titans held a two-day memorial at LP Field on July 8 and 9, 2009, where fans could pay their last respects to McNair. Following Steves tragic passing, save for a public statement expressing her gratitude for the love she and her family were receiving, Mechelle refused to give interviews or speak about the matter. When McNair was alive, if one of the boys was struggling with a batting stance or a shot, he could go outside, spend 30 minutes with him and get it figured out. He probably wouldn't have spent most of the summer dreading this moment, standing in front of a college dorm, trying not to cry. As they enter new stages of their lives, they wonder what their father would think. So now that years have gone by, we cant help but wonder about the people Steve left behind. In addition, McNair won the Walter Payton Award as the top I-AA player and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Rashaan Salaam and Ki-Jana Carter. He was also named First-Team All-SWAC for the third year in a row. We immediately think of his family, his boys. She was slow to trust after her husband's death and never remarried. The man who had taken epidurals and basically crawled around in pain six days a week but somehow played football on Sundays couldn't be gone. McNair said he loved them. He was catching up with friends and hanging out at Waffle House at 2 in the morning. After thirteen seasons in the NFL, McNair announced his retirement from professional football in April 2008. When you walk into Lucille McNair's memory room,it's hard not be overwhelmed with the accomplishments of her sons, especially the oneknown as Steve "Air" McNair; alegacy she says beganwhen Steve was a young boy,following in the footsteps of his older brother Fred. Piller downplays his involvement. He told them to find something they loved and to do it well. "You're going to have people who say, 'Oh, she knew.' Because I hurt like everybody else. She has thought about becoming a foster parent. She doesn't want to go through any more pain. They carry pieces of Steve, from Tyler's mannerisms to the way Trent calls people "Buddy." But Lucille was more concerned with themmoving in the classroom. She never played. She never imagined she'd leave Mississippi after college to move to Houston with a man who had just been selected at No. She didn't usually get as much . He made at least $90 million in salary over his 13-year career with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and. 27 Jerseys at Sunday's Game", "Remembering 'Air McNair' NCAA Football", "Shooting Unveils Very Different Sides of Ex-NFL Quarterback Steve McNair", "McNair helped bring stability and success to vagabond franchise", "MVP Patrick Mahomes is now part of the legendary black quarterback fraternity", "MLB Amateur Draft Picks with the Name Matching: mcnair", "Devlin Hodges notches FCS mark with 14,584 career passing yards", "Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Oilers - December 8th, 1996 - Pro-Football-Reference.com", Notes: Favre backs McNair; Leinart hires Condon, Judge: Officer didn't have 'sufficient basis' to stop McNair for DUI, "NFL players from historically black colleges", "McNair visits Titans, doesn't have animosity over parting National Football League", McNair introduced as Ravens' new starting QB, "McNair's case to be heard today in Tenn", McNair could have playoff impact in Baltimore, "A Look Back at the Career of Steve McNair", "McNair Says Goodbye to Ravens, National Football League", "NFF Announces Storied 2020 College Football Hall of Fame Class Presented by ETT", "Former Titans' QB opens Nashville restaurant", "Demario Davis Remembers His Cousin, Steve McNair", "Police: Steve McNair death is apparent murder-suicide", "Woman's gun ID'd in Steve McNair death, but questions linger", "Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair Final Texts Show Worries of Love and Money", "Tenn. police rule ex-QB McNair's death a homicide", "Autopsy planned for slain NFL star Steve McNair", "ESPN A Football Life The tragic passing of Steve McNair", "Police Release 911 Tapes in Steve McNair Case", "Coroner: Steve McNair a Victim of Murder-Suicide", "Police: McNair mistress knew gun seller for weeks", "The 2009 Murder of Steve McNair: Jenni Kazemi had known man who sold gun to her", "Statement From Titans Owner K.S. She knew how much potential he had. "I look at Tyler," she says, "and he knows exactly what his passion is. 'Bud' Adams, Jr. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing. Since she loves taking care of others, shes even thinking of becoming a foster parent. Yes. At the time, it was considered one of the biggest funerals in the state. I've gotta keep going.". However, McNair later bailed Kazemi out of jail. At the time of their father's demise, Tyler started crying and got a kitchen knife and tried to kill himself, saying he can't live without his father. "Honestly, the most I've ever felt like a child is this year," Tyler says. Time, if you handle it right, has a way of filtering out the bad memories but leaving the good. just standing in the pocket," said Lucille. Before she met McNair, Mechelle never thought she would get married. Judy Winslow Was an Integral Part of the 'Family Matters' Dynamic. "He paved the way and now it's time for you to move forward.". Deadly Recall: Air McNair is an episode that examines the life, slaying, and aftermath of renowned NFL quarterback Stephen McNair, who died at the age of 36 and left behind a shocked family and fanbase. "He said momma,we need the moneyand I said look,your education is more important," said Lucille. They hug, and Tyler wants to tell her something before she goes back home to Tennessee. Steve McNair was buried on a Saturday in his home state of Mississippi. Every season, Mechelle sends Trent's basketball schedule to Mu and to Zach Piller. "She just had it made, you . Piller likes to mess with Trent sometimes and tells him he could probably jump higher if he'd cut his long hair. Initially, she did not believe her husband was dead. But did I know about her? [9], The Seattle Mariners drafted him in the 35th round of the 1991 MLB amateur draft.[10]. "I don't want to be alone," she says. I don't want to be here by myself. Her mother, Melzena Cartwright, saw the news on TV. Tyler, who was 10, started crying. It was a good day for two little boys who saw their dad as a superhero. Steve McNair was born on Valentine's Day, and he died on the Fourth of July. There were good times, too. Maybe she could do that. "Lucille was a single mother,raising five rambunctious boys. Mu was the one who took them to father-son breakfasts and NBA games. Those assets included the million dollar mansion he had built for his mother, Lucille, to live in during her twilight years. It's his way of being around his brother still. At that point, Mechelle had a boyfriend and was only focused on pursuing a career in the medical field as a doctor. "He was the first person to come," Tyler says. "That word will always get to me. The boys are so close that Trent sleeps in Tyler's bed when he's at college. Watch the video below to see the rest of this unbelievable drama, Prom Rundown: Erica Dixon And Tammy Riveras Daughters Nailed Their Prom Looks. ". Somehow, he seared his hands. Merrill: The dilemma of how to mourn McNair She says she protects her heart and her kids. Regarding Steve McNair", "McNair's funeral draws thousands in Mississippi", "Steve McNair and the Perils of Dying Without a Will", "Tenn. Judge Gives McNair's Widow, Children $500k each", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_McNair&oldid=1152382932, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 22:36. The transition from football player to businessman was not smooth. But it gets worse, she told Steves mom to pay $3,000 rent or get the hell out! (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt) . Her statement read, in part, Your prayers, kind deeds, and outpouring of support throughout this difficult time have been of tremendous comfort to usYou are appreciated beyond measure. Moreover, in the months that followed, despite the fact that Steve had not left a will, her lawyers revealed that, as per instructions, she would not exclude any of his kids from his estate. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's lap during the service. She would wonder, later, about signs. It has been exactly ten years of Steve's demise. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." "Honestly, the most I've ever felt like a child is this year," Tyler says. How do you think she was feeling? "I always tell these young childrenI'm not braggin on him, but you can do what Steve McNair did," said Lucille. They hug, and Tyler wants to tell her something before she goes back home to Tennessee. As for Steven OBryant McNair, who was 15 at the time of Steve Sr.s death, he still resides in Mississippi. Timeline of Steve McNair and Sahel 'Jenni' Kazemi leading up to their deaths. She stood up, the pain radiated from the right side of her skull, and she had to lie back down. Tyler believes it's the same thing his dad would have said. God and her friends and family who cooked and took the kids swimming and handled everything. He said he couldn't live without his daddy and wanted to kill himself. The boxes are unpacked, the dorm room is clean, and there is nothing else to do but say goodbye. In his stead entered Neil O'Donnell, a veteran who had guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl four years earlier. McNair completed 18 of 29 pass attempts for 173 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions as the Ravens lost, 156. Trent, who was 5, rested his head on his mother's. In the week 14 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McNair threw the longest regular-season touchdown pass in the Ravens' history, an 89-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton. "I think that [Trent] would be attached to his dad." "I don't want him to look at me and say, 'Oh, my mom is just kind of relaxed,'" she says. "I think it was important for [Lucille] because you see a part of your son you lost," Mechelle says. The boxes are unpacked, the dorm room is clean, and there is nothing else to do but say goodbye. Mechelle sits in the stands and yells at him to "keep your face straight." Tyler, who was 10, started crying. Although she didn't grow up playing sports, Mechelle quickly acclimated herself to the life of a football wife. He was the starting quarterback for Alcorn State for all but one game in his four-year college football career. The couple had first met at Alcorn State, a historically black university in Claiborne County, Mississippi. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. In a statement to the AP, Ozzie Newsome, executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, stated:[39][50]. 3 in the NFL draft. McNair grew up in Mississippi and chose to attend the rural Alcorn State University, a historically Black Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision [FCS]) school where he could play quarterback, rather than serve as defensive back at a major university. He felt pressure from fans, students and coaches to stay on the basketball team. Bossip Comment Policy Piller went to one of Trent's basketball games recently, and the younger McNair didn't disappoint. She would wonder, later, about signs. When he's at school, he FaceTimes with her at least once a day, so it's almost as if she sees him more when he's in New York.

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